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Sat 23 Feb 2013
Alnwick
Billingham Lions
12
20
The spirit shines through again
Barry Woodhouse26 Feb 2013 - 08:12
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Players out of position, turning upon the "off chance" and last minute call ups Talent shining through and a great all round performance take a win
ALNWICK V BILLINGHAM LIONS
Despite the thirds game being off we were still ringing round at 11.30 for a replacement front row and thanks to Scott Thompson travelling and Woodhouse volunteering to play hooker we managed it. The game looked unlikely to be on as we drove through blizzards almost seventy miles North to Alnwick. The clear roads gave us hope as we approached the ground an saw no snow at all. With a mixture of youth and experience we were told that Alnwick could not field a front row therefore it would be uncontested scrums. We started off well enough pressing hard with Scott breaking the gain line and the home side infringing to stop a score and Armstrong slotting the penalty. The home side pressed hard with Billingham defending resolutely when the very speedy Wilson intercepted on his own twenty and like lightning was off towards there posts to score. With quarter of the game gone Fewster who had made some good runs out wide took a blow to the face and had to leave the field to be replaced by Sudron who continued to attack at every opportunity.
Alnwick pressed hard and despite excellent defensive work from Raey and Danny Westall, on the half hour pulled the score back with an unconverted try in the corner.
HALF TIME ALNWICK 5 V BILLINGHAM LIONS 10
With twenty minutes to go two more of our talented young guns were blooded as Hammond was replaced by Jackson with Anderson taking over the line out throws and Chapman replaced Westall in the back row. An excellent passage of play followed with phase after phase and Foster and Matty Westall breaking the line time after time. Then Sayers through a cheeky dummy and broke clear to be brought down on their twenty Woodhouse threw a long pass out to the centre combo and a well timed pass from Westall saw Wilson take a great line to race in for his second. Dan Westall came back on for Scott as Alnwick raised the odds but Wildridge showed he was not one to be messed with and definitely came out on top of the rucks. Thompson came on for his annual Lions run out as the home side appeared to have run out of steam. Arrowsmith appeared to be everywhere tackling, linking and driving on with an impressive display.Then following a couple of penalties they were camped on our five metre line. We secured a turn over and won the put in at the scrum the charged down clearance attempt gave Alnwick a lifeline as they pulled back within three points with ten minutes to go. Once again the Lions reverted to type with quick hands and flowing play seeing Watkins stopped just short on the left and the ball spun through the backs to Sudron who weaved his way through on the right to put the game out of reach with three minutes left on the clock. A very good win and thanks must go to Marcus Sudron who turned up on the off chance of a game and Scott Thompson who travelled at the last minute to give us a front row replacement.
FULL TIME ALNWICK 12 V BILLINGHAM LIONS 20
Scorers. Tries Wilson 2, Sudron 1
Kicks Armstrong 1 Penalty, 1 Conversion, (and one charge down)
Reporters comment :- Despite uncontested scrums a great performance all round although if players say “Don't mention that charge down” Guess what I will (Twice) Thanks also to Rob Hamer (team manager) and John Davies (Tactical coach) for running the side from the sidelines.
Despite the thirds game being off we were still ringing round at 11.30 for a replacement front row and thanks to Scott Thompson travelling and Woodhouse volunteering to play hooker we managed it. The game looked unlikely to be on as we drove through blizzards almost seventy miles North to Alnwick. The clear roads gave us hope as we approached the ground an saw no snow at all. With a mixture of youth and experience we were told that Alnwick could not field a front row therefore it would be uncontested scrums. We started off well enough pressing hard with Scott breaking the gain line and the home side infringing to stop a score and Armstrong slotting the penalty. The home side pressed hard with Billingham defending resolutely when the very speedy Wilson intercepted on his own twenty and like lightning was off towards there posts to score. With quarter of the game gone Fewster who had made some good runs out wide took a blow to the face and had to leave the field to be replaced by Sudron who continued to attack at every opportunity.
Alnwick pressed hard and despite excellent defensive work from Raey and Danny Westall, on the half hour pulled the score back with an unconverted try in the corner.
HALF TIME ALNWICK 5 V BILLINGHAM LIONS 10
With twenty minutes to go two more of our talented young guns were blooded as Hammond was replaced by Jackson with Anderson taking over the line out throws and Chapman replaced Westall in the back row. An excellent passage of play followed with phase after phase and Foster and Matty Westall breaking the line time after time. Then Sayers through a cheeky dummy and broke clear to be brought down on their twenty Woodhouse threw a long pass out to the centre combo and a well timed pass from Westall saw Wilson take a great line to race in for his second. Dan Westall came back on for Scott as Alnwick raised the odds but Wildridge showed he was not one to be messed with and definitely came out on top of the rucks. Thompson came on for his annual Lions run out as the home side appeared to have run out of steam. Arrowsmith appeared to be everywhere tackling, linking and driving on with an impressive display.Then following a couple of penalties they were camped on our five metre line. We secured a turn over and won the put in at the scrum the charged down clearance attempt gave Alnwick a lifeline as they pulled back within three points with ten minutes to go. Once again the Lions reverted to type with quick hands and flowing play seeing Watkins stopped just short on the left and the ball spun through the backs to Sudron who weaved his way through on the right to put the game out of reach with three minutes left on the clock. A very good win and thanks must go to Marcus Sudron who turned up on the off chance of a game and Scott Thompson who travelled at the last minute to give us a front row replacement.
FULL TIME ALNWICK 12 V BILLINGHAM LIONS 20
Scorers. Tries Wilson 2, Sudron 1
Kicks Armstrong 1 Penalty, 1 Conversion, (and one charge down)
Reporters comment :- Despite uncontested scrums a great performance all round although if players say “Don't mention that charge down” Guess what I will (Twice) Thanks also to Rob Hamer (team manager) and John Davies (Tactical coach) for running the side from the sidelines.
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